Clad in an oversized hoodie, your dark curly hair tumbles forward, concealing your eyes and most of your face, a welcome barrier against the surrounding bustle. 601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQHyT9fRMT
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW0B9BeOEw
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLRBf9kkgL
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWCrUPVGAe
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMz2j5YmKT
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxb7qfv74g
He stands by the lockers, his stance casual yet imposing, his face giving nothing away. He catches your eye with a look that pins you in place.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwoPKl8lRc
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqn5ShAu7RJ
In-woo: I need you to run some errands, grab my lunch, and don’t forget to pick up my math homework from the printer. Make it quick, okay?601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNYGy5wBNR
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHrTbTXJ4b
You nod, resigned. There's no escaping the routine. Every task is an echo of the years spent under his quiet dominance. You never use your money for his errands; he makes sure of it, a small token that doesn’t soften the burden of your duties.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZz33qY7cw
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMkG1OwMlh
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5szhB7WPZK
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcqvFlqNLk
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiyH0pspDZ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZYUYkCTnS
The cafeteria is bustling, a cacophony of adolescent energy and the clatter of trays. You fulfill his lunch order, the familiar pang of annoyance softened by the routine discovery of a burger among the items—a small treat he includes, unspoken, for you.
It's a strange, silent concession from him, a confusing gesture that adds complexity to your tangled feelings.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Gz0OiC810
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8hmtpdHiO
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh89637nTY
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn6p65wOwz
Back at the lockers, you hand him the neatly stacked papers and the food, his fingers brushing against yours briefly, unintentionally. His expression remains unreadable, his eyes not meeting yours.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqKTnJZLQ5
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxDA1E5yqT
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cgg9SFVVF
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoWbZ1zgVP
You turn away, the frustration simmering inside. His indifference is a mask, the reasons behind his actions as obscured as his emotions. Every favor you do, every task you complete, you’re left with more questions than answers.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2jyuE9XrP
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPfKYHT0mP
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDBYS3Km4Y
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEsCEs8HbB
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HyhsAh8Wi
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUpIYHZtBY
[Transition]601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8Oem58JSv
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuLfrIpnIZ
You navigate the quieting halls after your last class, anticipating the solitude of your walk home when you spot In-woo near the old, rarely used art room. It's not a surprise—more of a routine encounter.
He positions himself intentionally in your path, a silent sentinel with an unspoken expectation.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi76JiQqmzc
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAYIuqjxiH
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8np2zJV3wI
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gPdeHtNlC
With no spoken command needed, you walk over, feeling the invisible tug of his presence. This enforced ritual has turned into a personal challenge for you to fill his silence with a flood of your daily trivialities, hoping to drown him in the mundane details of your life.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwCaM1HQ4z
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGkxotKl0J
Today, you launch into an animated recount of your younger sibling’s latest antics, the words pouring out in a relentless stream.
He stands there, a stoic figure, giving nothing away as you chatter about the mess at breakfast, the chaos of getting everyone out the door, and the comedy of errors that followed.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73UBJ49bFI
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZ9HSsevVu
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlZiX1f7ER
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYzwIviwDu
Your monologue drifts to the more tedious aspects of your day—how you nearly fell asleep in history class, the peculiar smell of the school cafeteria, or the peculiar way your pen keeps leaking.
It’s a litany of the profoundly ordinary, delivered with a hope that maybe, just maybe, he’ll grow tired of these one-sided sessions.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeu1tXPciWD
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbq9r2OxhKz
Despite your efforts, In-woo remains as impassive as ever, his face a mask of indifference. Is he even listening, or are you just background noise to him?601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqaLVvqQJh
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9BfLSiA5A
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg05WTjPoeb
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPvrbK7yXW
As the corridor empties, leaving echoes in its wake, your stories begin to run dry. You look at him, trying to gauge any sign of boredom or irritation, but his expression is unreadable—locked away behind a façade of detachment.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRg0d7A4XE
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVPmkPFf3n
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1fkvtJWna
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhoDoFajAv
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ665JA1zNxF
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4iEIzkRd7
You watch him disappear around the corner, the weight of unspoken questions lingering in the air. Picking up your backpack, you start towards the exit, pondering the peculiar form of attention he gives you, wondering if it means more than you realize.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3392FTzSx
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4OifgMeKw
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKAxbrN01K
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH62DRkDwD
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqrf4PBQw3
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP24zNN31Oj
[Transition]601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf6mnMrN2k
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLj5pEsGAL
You stride down the school corridor, your thoughts swirling with the conflicting emotions that have haunted you through the years. The echoes of your footsteps mingle with the whispers of your internal turmoil—a constant battle between disdain and desire.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYbcQaJAPA
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEE8CWu7k8
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVlZaM9N26
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEhndqZykP
As you pass by, your eyes catch sight of In-woo in the library, helping a younger student reach a book on a high shelf. His movements are graceful, effortless.
His face, usually so impassive when he looks at you, softens with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes but lights up his features all the same. The sight tugs at something deep within you.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oT7HA6oKk
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHoyplsekq
Shin-woo: (Look at him... even when he smiles, it's like he's not really there. But it's enough to make my heart skip, isn't it?)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CyhcxoL8D
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpQ961GTT3
You lean against the lockers, watching him interact with her—a stark contrast to how he treats you. The girl giggles, thanking him, and he nods with a trace of that unreachable smile.
As they part ways, your heart tightens, the familiar pang of jealousy and longing squeezing tightly.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPKoAQUPfj
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHH412kCjv
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpZJKSvtYW
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKsEfKpnXZ
The bell rings, pulling you from your reverie, but the image of his gentle smile lingers in your mind. You push off from the lockers, forcing your legs to move, dragging your tangled emotions along the tiled floor.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02SkOJ4bcZ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfJBLal1h9
Shin-woo: (He's so confusing... so frustrating. I hate how much I pay attention, but I can't stop. It's like being stuck in a loop, always back to square one with him.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbCkimAMhm
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32C66MpXfT
As you turn the corner, your eyes inadvertently search for another glimpse of him, a habit you despise yet indulge in every time. The complex weave of your feelings tightens with each sighting, each casual interaction he has that you witness from afar.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRZtwLYbrZ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSr3Hm25gf
Shin-woo: (And every time he's kind, every time he smiles at someone else, it feels like a small betrayal. Why do I even care? Why can't I just turn off these feelings?)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYqPHlLvt0
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0An5asOW1
You head to class, the weight of your unspoken questions and unresolved emotions clouding your mind like a fog that refuses to lift. Each step is a reminder of the turbulent journey through your schooling years, marked by the paradox of resentment and yearning, never quite settling on either.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTtU6i6Ve2
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKozkd8OuA9
[Transition]601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0FvEXn5BQ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WmDMWVf1l
Saturday morning unfolds slowly at your home, the air filled with the laughter and occasional squabbles of your younger siblings.
As you step into the living room, your eyes immediately find Dae-hyun, 5 years old, constructing a fortress out of cushions on the sofa. His eyes light up when he sees you, and a grin spreads across his face.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6h1oVQQvGF
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsK4S7NK7Ku
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DiH5LLMhe
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9osRmEjOE
You can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, bending down to assist him with his architectural endeavor. His small hands clumsily adjust the cushions you strategically place, his giggles infectious.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDvabt8vq0
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNpHEkzyEf
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYh8zUKyBSc
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxx1Z2TSgdM
Next, you find Byung-ho, 6 years old, engrossed in a makeshift game of pirates, his toy sword swishing through the air as he navigates the treacherous carpet seas. He spots you and immediately recruits you as his first mate.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeWYwoIEGW
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡih5VzK7jxE
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYsEBuGsgJ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVy2uK3hVdn
His expression is stern, but the twinkle in his eyes betrays his playful spirit. You join his game, following his lead as he outlines the rules with the seriousness of a sea captain.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGZlFvkuzk
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0w76voI9TZ
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPFqg7imFL
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUTf8pihel
Meanwhile, Iseul is at the kitchen table, working on her homework but clearly struggling to focus. Her brow is furrowed, and she occasionally scribbles something, then sighs heavily—a pre-teen of 8 years old wrapped up in the drama of schoolwork and growing up.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeefBx3qjhw
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0rATlM9LA
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOotpJx0tYQ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3giYAL0zp
Shin-woo: Need some help?601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlLGj0qnMb
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39Lzhzbhmc
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIGJL33MZR
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl8N2guJo2
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nA70Ga7qP
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX00ZwhDWlD
Her tone is a blend of the capricious pre-teen attitude you’re starting to see more often, but her eyes are grateful that you’re there to help.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINcynWpQcO
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMD6eIQWoMl
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OLtYdanIm
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyso4ziJe6
As you sit down to guide her through the math problem, explaining the steps with patient gestures, Dae-hyun clambers into your lap, snuggling close. The warmth of his small body and the focus on Iseul’s homework encapsulate the dual role you play in their lives—protector and mentor.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSeH43ZuAD
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9jIg3CN3v
Byung-ho’s victorious shout as he ‘finds’ his treasure fills the room, blending with Iseul’s relieved “Ah, I get it now!” and Dae-hyun’s contented sigh as he begins to drift off to sleep in your arms.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrekjK2x3F
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFNmEuiLiW
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy6IGPQE8M
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaTbRI9Hpg
You balance the weight of your youngest brother in your arms with the weight of your family’s needs, the love you have for them making every challenge worthwhile.
Time passes quietly as you hold Dae-hyun close, his breathing deep and steady as he sleeps against your chest. The day drifts into a peaceful lull, the quiet moments with your siblings grounding you.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAq05MO1LO
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF70IQDBwXQ
Eventually, the stillness of the afternoon is broken by the soft creak of the front door. Your mom slips out quietly, heading off to another long shift, her departure a familiar routine. The door closes with a soft click that echoes through the now-quiet apartment.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCChuFLbeT
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTXhZ0DSi5
It’s a sound you’re all too familiar with, one that signals the start of another stretch where she’ll be at work, trying to keep everything together for the family.
The weight of her absence sits heavily on your shoulders, a reminder of the responsibilities you’ve taken on since your dad passed away four years ago.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8fOSG9LqI
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Xb75vQ7E0
Shin-woo: (She’s always so tired… She never complains, but I can see it. I just wish she didn’t have to work so hard.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfULct3LvDm
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCv5Fe9NKy
You glance around the small apartment, now eerily quiet without the usual hum of activity. It’s moments like this when you miss your mom the most—not just her presence, but the way she used to laugh more freely before everything became about surviving.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf65SAishdQ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdi8u1xmx3
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOi3cXuj9Vw
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp99wWx5Fj
Your thoughts are interrupted by the familiar knock at the door. You already know who it is before you open it. Eun-ho, your childhood friend, stands there with a grin that could rival the sun.
He doesn’t need an invitation, stepping inside like he’s done a thousand times before. 601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQt6JQuedLt
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3eNClKuia
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBCEnQOEOX
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRMenuvezc
He drops his bag by the couch, plopping down like it’s his own home. In many ways, it is. The two of you have spent countless weekends and holidays here, filling the silence with laughter and mischief. Eun-ho’s presence always has a way of lightening the atmosphere, his energy infectious.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2p4banwd7W
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0syBXdGHE
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJBFs0bOGF
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39NcnTPwxh
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFphpZgpkJ0
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVH82S1ehtr
You join him on the couch, and he immediately starts goofing around, poking you in the ribs until you’re both laughing like kids again. This is your escape—a brief reprieve from the worries that usually occupy your mind.
He throws an arm around your shoulders, his voice dropping into that playful tone he uses whenever he wants to get a rise out of you.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeauR2znbch
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0CeppMRT2
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVn9CjIMMn
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3V1JMuT8u
You freeze for a second, shooting him a glare, but it lacks real heat. He’s the only person who knows about your complicated feelings for In-woo, and he’s never let you live it down.
But you also know it comes from a place of understanding, not judgment.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsN3OuvTmT
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6wElYNJIL
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7W4iwD4Sgh
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpG1r0SSFWx
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xPU38E8ew
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm289b66vU8
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcspzCnh6Y
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeditWTzkom
You groan, leaning back against the couch, trying to will away the flush that creeps up your neck. He’s relentless, but that’s just who Eun-ho is. He knows how to push your buttons, but it’s also his way of showing he cares.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAJl7tRX2m
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OzZeMUm75
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHEAL2dLOv
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfuidj5g8u
The two of you settle into your usual routine—talking about everything and nothing, playing video games, and just enjoying the rare moments of peace when life doesn’t feel so heavy.
It’s these weekends that remind you you’re not alone, even when it feels like the world is on your shoulders.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVyuGTLhLz
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHlqH3XQ4K
As the evening draws on, Eun-ho eventually falls asleep on the couch, his arm draped over his eyes to block out the light. You watch him for a moment, the steady rise and fall of his chest calming your own racing thoughts.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yGyExofY2
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONauN2nQ0a
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7I4jE8vUV
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPAPXxGRIf
You pull a blanket over him before heading to your room, the apartment now filled with the quiet sound of Eun-ho’s soft snores.
It’s not much, but these moments are enough to keep you going, to remind you that, no matter how tough things get, you’ve got someone in your corner.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfLJ0yPwBS
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKI7cRdqcLP
And with that thought, you let yourself relax, knowing that tomorrow will bring its own challenges, but also knowing you won’t be facing them alone.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dDapDLW6m
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFit0B3TCe
[Transition]601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JXHHydays
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qFGBY5Aoi
It's spring, the season when the world outside bursts into color and life. As if on cue with the blooming flowers, In-woo has his own ritual.
Today, like many times before, he leads you to the old cherry blossom tree on the edge of the school grounds. The air is cool, but the sun dapples through the branches, casting playful shadows on the ground.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4R5GOUxyPN
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpfBvnheqj
In-woo stretches out beneath the tree, his back against the grass, eyes closed in a serene expression. You settle next to him, not as relaxed, your body tense as you pretend to gaze outward at the scattered petals.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY3aYAkIKi
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDPH04kTNW
Shin-woo: (Every spring it’s the same, but I never tire of it. It’s the one time I can just look at him, really look, without fear of being caught.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67F1ewSYQD
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Md2Fx6mO7
You shift slightly, turning to steal a glance at In-woo. His features are softened by the gentle sunlight, making him look almost peaceful, a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor.
The setting is almost too picturesque, him lying there without a care, and you sitting guard, watching over his repose. Your hair falls forward, a convenient veil that completely conceals your face from curious onlookers, allowing you to gaze at him unnoticed.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonKoI8YUXP
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ybfaYRgms
His chest rises and falls with a rhythm that lulls you into a sense of tranquility you only find here, in these moments. Your heart beats a little faster as you allow your eyes to trace the lines of his face—the curve of his jaw, the gentle arch of his brows.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJKdHpyxh3
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqC8HPwmd1
Shin-woo: (He’s like some character from a story, too perfect to be real. And here I am, close enough to know it’s not all just a façade.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYMXZ2a8LV
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGWDQc4hYm
Your hand inches closer to his, a subconscious desire to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality. But you stop halfway, pulling back before a touch can break the spell.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeFgpdjLhT
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiD8ecOWOP
In-woo stirs slightly, his eyelids fluttering but not opening, and you quickly avert your gaze, focusing on a random point on the ground. Your heart hammers in your chest, worried for a moment that he caught you staring.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhbX8DXRSD
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeu2de00Y2
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQziw4i4I7
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeQsM3staK
You draw in a deep breath, the scent of cherry blossoms filling your lungs, and settle in to enjoy the tranquility of the moment, however fleeting it may be.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9ov5OWXpx
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2km4oyFCjZ
The fleeting serenity of your spring ritual with In-woo comes to an abrupt end as he springs to his feet, full of energy.
With a characteristic tug at your sleeve, he pulls you along to the next event of the day—a basketball match against a rival high school. In-woo's school has never lost to this team, thanks largely to his prowess on the court.
[Transition]601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZZ6rhwm2v
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9eKESZUOe
You follow him to the gym, your role during these games well-practiced. You find your usual spot in the front row, armed with a bottle of water and a towel, essentials for In-woo during his breaks.
As you settle down, you feel the weight of numerous stares. Jealous glances from both girls and boys slice through the air towards you, their envy palpable. 601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVZI3zUgyN
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrS48q10Lx
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbUtGOrgAM
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BZSoHSTa3
Your lips curl into a smirk, one that doesn’t quite reach your eyes but serves its purpose. It's a small rebellion, a silent assertion of your place by his side, even if the nature of that place is misunderstood by onlookers.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQF8rG8aU7
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcHWaWb2dS
As the game starts, In-woo transforms. On the court, he is not the stoic, unapproachable figure you spend your days with but a dynamic, almost untouchable force.
Each movement he makes is fluid and precise, his athleticism on full display. You can’t help but be captivated. 601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz9qoM9qVv
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf646Xxn9O
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJH1cWFHS7X
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0mubU3FbD
Your smile widens as he scores yet another basket, his team pulling further ahead. The crowd's cheers swell around you, a tumultuous sea of excitement and energy, but your focus remains solely on In-woo.
His shirt clings to him, damp with sweat, outlining muscles that shift and flex with every move. The sight sends a warm thrill through you.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTaqrnAnRb
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5feg9LNdsp
Shin-woo: (He’s incredible. Not just as a player... but just him. Every time I think I’ve got my feelings under control, he does something to show me I’m far from over him.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JW7BdJIJQ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObiXTP6cq6
You clutch the water bottle tighter, anticipation building with each pause in the game when you know he’ll jog over to you for a quick refresh, his face alight with the thrill of the game, eyes finding yours for that brief moment that seems to stretch and bend in the air between you.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQFFVRWqci
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NYWvLCqxn
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0tOcW9WL1
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbJfu302FH
The whistle blows, snapping you out of your reverie, and he jogs over again, that same determined, competitive gleam in his eyes that somehow softens just a fraction when he looks at you.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWUAW4y2lL
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApvS9FZs3A
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbs9mUkjz3
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIIFdDZw4i
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3pIZQzoMr
You hand him the towel first, watching as he wipes the sweat from his forehead and neck, his movements precise and calculated. There's an intensity to his actions, a focus that he carries from the court to even the simplest tasks.
You then offer the water bottle, and as he takes a long drink, your eyes are irresistibly drawn to the motion of his Adam's apple, tracking each swallow with a fascination you can't hide.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3dUsb0VFq
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ1VEiGhMC
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPR7yh8Tob
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8vHw9tgVC
A droplet of water escapes, tracing a line down from the corner of his mouth to his neck. Your gaze follows the path of the water, lingering a moment too long.
Unconsciously, your tongue flicks out, wetting your own lips as if you could taste the salty sweetness of his effort from across the air between you.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwtJL9rLWG
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPilu4y6SKH
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZVyFI2NQv
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlezaguG7ze
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrIJap5MHB
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1aJoUewYx
His look is a mix of amusement and a challenge, a silent question about what exactly you find so captivating. Flustered, you scramble mentally, looking away briefly before meeting his eyes again, an attempt to regain some composure. 601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7NGwsvnMR
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4gcFNL0VG
Shin-woo: (Focus. He’s just a guy. Just a guy who happens to throw my world off its axis every time he looks at me.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AyggNmw5O
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuuHL3GRsI
As he finishes drinking and hands back the bottle, the moment stretches taut between you. There’s an acknowledgment in his glance, a recognition of the unspoken tension that always seems to dance just on the edge of your interactions.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq2z2wDgXn
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX57kcAm5I
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0Epq65ylJ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMRvcLfZa6
He returns to the game without another word, leaving you to ponder the brief encounter, your heart pounding a little too loudly in your chest.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBODFJbPX42
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTV5D9K9IC
The game resumes with its usual fervor, the crowd’s energy palpable as the players dart back and forth across the court. You watch, half-lost in the ebb and flow of the match, your nerves tight each time In-woo handles the ball.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D3aoxx9TP
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2Hr6rgQvh
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCVJktMuEA
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hpH1rGzky
Your focus sharpens as Dylan, a notorious rival from the opposing team, enters into a direct contest with In-woo.
You know Dylan by reputation and unfortunate personal experience; he's the type who bristles at being overlooked, and his interactions with you have been uncomfortably forward, always trying to catch your eye with a wink or a smirk during games.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DA0W20z46
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalxDKZev4h
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRnwItPFhe
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtK1IG8JKp
Today, Dylan's antagonism is more palpable than ever. His taunts seem louder, aimed not just to unnerve In-woo but to draw a reaction from you as well.
However, In-woo, ever the stoic, ignores him, focused solely on the game. This only seems to infuriate Dylan further.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3U1r8pDy0
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi22GJ13MlR
As the tension on the court builds, a sudden movement catches your eye—a deliberate, aggressive shove from Dylan. In-woo, caught off-guard, stumbles backward, his balance lost.
The world seems to slow down as In-woo's head makes a sickening thud against the metal basketball post. He crumples to the floor, motionless.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2bGWudPnA
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxGHK1Ob7B
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
and then Add to home screen.